The organisers of pop-up swap party JupYeah (Cantonese for 'picking up treasures') were surprised when more than 200 people came to their last event. After all, the group was formed with the aim of providing a forum for close friends looking to clear out their cluttered closets and swap unwanted belongings.

'It's commonly believed that Hong Kong people only like brand-new things, but it seems that more and more people appreciate vintage and used items, too,' organiser Kodi Wan Po-shan said.

The idea is simple: for a HK$60 entrance fee, you can bring your unwanted possessions - books, clothes, CDs and magazines, for example - to the event and place them in the pool. You are then free to take other participants' belongings home.

The third JupYeah gathering will take place on August 12, from 12 noon to 6pm, at the gallery of HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity in Lok Fu. Drinks and canapes will be served, while independent acts including Sensi Lion, Robbie Ho and Bas Trio will provide live entertainment.

The first two gatherings turned out to be social events for like-minded people, Wan said. 'City people usually keep a safe distance from strangers. But we hope to go beyond just swapping goodies and also bring people closer together with these events.'